The Belarusian ambassador to Poland, Vladimir Chushev, was called in by the foreign ministry in Warsaw earlier in the day after Lukashenko claimed that a high-level diplomatic war was being waged against his country, state news agency PAP reported.
The Belarusian leader alleged, according to PAP, that “statements had appeared” in Poland that if Belarus broke apart amid a crisis, neigbouring Poland would take over the north-western Grodno region of his country.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz said: "I informed the ambassador that there is no consent in Poland to this type of narrative, for these types of accusations. That we are surprised, disappointed and that we note with concern the words of President Lukashenko himself, and also of his closest associates."
Przydacz added that Poland considered such claims as "completely unfounded and based on false and harmful arguments.”
“There is no debate in Poland on any border or geopolitical shifts. There are no military movements (though) such claims have been made in public debate in the Republic of Belarus," Przydacz said.
He added that allegations of this kind were an attempt to scare the Belarusian public with an "imaginary external enemy".
A series of massive demonstrations have swept Belarus this month to protest Lukashenko's claim to a sixth term as president in an election widely dismissed as rigged.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday his government had urged Russia ditch any plans for a military intervention in Belarus.
(pk)
Source: PAP